Analysis of the Elements of Plot in Agatha Christie's "The Mystery of the Blue Train".
ABSTRACT
Dalam tugas akhir ini, saya menganalisis sebuah novel karya Agatha
Christie yang berjudul The Mystery of the Blue Train. Novel ini bercerita tentang
pembunuhan seorang wanita yang bernama Ruth Kettering, anak seorang
pengusaha kaya di Amerika, Rufus Van Aldin. Kasus pembunuhan ini ditangani
oleh seorang detektif ternama bernama Hercule Poirot. Alur cerita dari novel ini
sangat menarik, oleh karena itu dalam tugas akhir ini saya menganalisis suspense,
bagian yang memunculkan ketegangan; surprise, bagian yang menampilkan
kejadian-kejadian yang mengejutkan dan menjawab suspense; serta artistic unity,
bagian yang membuat suspense dan surprise masuk akal dan berkaitan satu
dengan yang lain.
Sebagai kesimpulan, saya berpendapat bahwa Christie membangun artistic
unity yang sangat baik dalam novel ini. Ketegangan yang dibangun sejak awal
cerita membuat pembaca semakin penasaran dan tertarik untuk membaca novel ini
hingga akhir. Novel ini diselingi pula oleh kejutan demi kejutan serta hal-hal di
luar dugaan pembaca. Meskipun demikian, Christie mampu membuat semuanya
menjadi masuk akal. Keberhasilan novel ini tidak lepas dari karakter detektif yang
Christie ciptakan karena Hercule Poirot dengan kepandaiannya mampu
menyelesaikan kasus ini dengan baik.
ii
Maranatha Christian University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i
ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ii
CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Background of Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Purpose of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Method of Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Organization of the Thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
CHAPTER TWO :ANALYSIS OF THE ELEMENTS OF PLOT IN
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE
TRAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
CHAPTER THREE : CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Synopsis of The Mystery of the Blue Train . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Biography of Agatha Christie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
24
i
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, known as Agatha Christie, is one
of the greatest mystery writers. She was also known as a noted playwright. Most
of her works have also been turned into movies and are viewed many times. She is
considered as one of the world's top-selling authors who have sold billions of
copies of her works. Agatha Christie was a prolific writer as she has written more
than 70 detective novels as well as short fictions, which have been widely
translated into 55 languages around the world. Christie's success as an author of
detective stories has earned her titles as a "Queen of Crime" or a "Queen of
Mystery" (“Agatha Christie Biography”). Christie was also famous as the creator
of two well-known detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Both of them
always make her readers fascinated because they have their own ways to solve
every case unexpectedly. Miss Marple has been featured in novels like The
Moving Finger (1942) and A Pocket Full of Rye (1953). However, Hercule Poirot
has made more appearances in Christie's novels, which include The Murder of
1
Maranatha Christian University
Roger Ackroyd (1926), Death in the Clouds (1935), and The Mystery of the Blue
Train (1928).
From all of her works, I decide to analyze The Mystery of The Blue Train
in my thesis. Published in 1928, the novel tells a story about Ruth Kettering, an
American heiress who dies in a luxurious blue train on her way to Nice after she
has received a set of valuable ruby necklace called “Heart of Fire”. It is a gift from
her father, Rufus Van Aldin, a millionaire. She is found dead in her compartment
and the case containing the ruby has disappeared. Then, the Belgian detective
Hercule Poirot, who happens to be on the train, starts to investigate the case and
helps Ruth’s father to find the murderer.
As The Mystery of The Blue Train is a murder mystery novel, elements of
plot is the most prominent element in the novel to be analyzed. The elements of
plot consist of suspense, surprise, and artistic unity. Suspense is “a quality in a
work of fiction that arouses excited expectation or uncertainty about what may
happen; in more literary forms of fiction the suspense involves the question
"Why?"” (“Introduction to Plot and Structure”). While, surprise is “whatever
happens in a story that the reader did not expect; is proportional to the
unexpectedness of what happens.” (“Introduction to Plot and Structure”). The last
one, artistic unity means,
… the condition of a successful literary work where by all its elements
work together for the achievement of its central purpose. In an artistically
unified work nothing is included that is irrelevant to the central, nothing is
2
Maranatha Christian University
omitted that is essential to it, and the parts are arranged in the most
effective order for the achievement of the purpose. (“Artistic Unity”)
In analyzing the novel, I choose to use formalism. This approach
… regards literature as a unique form of human knowledge that needs to
be examined on its own terms. All the elements necessary for
understanding the work are contained within the work itself. . . . a primary
goal for formalist critics is to determine how such elements work together
with the text’s content to shape its effects upon readers. (“Critical
Approaches to Literature”).
I believe the use of formalism is appropriate to help me in my analysis.
Statement of the Problem
The problems I am going to discuss are:
1. What is the suspense in the novel?
2. What is the surprise in the novel?
3. What is the artistic unity in the novel?
Purpose of the Study
Based on the statements of the problem, the purposes of the study are:
1. To show the suspenses in the novel.
2. To show the surprises in the novel.
3. To show how the artistic unity is presented in the novel.
Method of Research
3
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I use library research in writing my thesis. First, I read The Mystery of the
Blue Train by Agatha Christie as a primary text. Then, I take some data from the
Internet sites and sources to support my analysis of the elements of plot in The
Mystery of the Blue Train. Last, I draw some conclusions from my analysis.
Organization of Thesis
This thesis is organized into three chapters, which are preceded by the
Table of Contents and the Abstract. Chapter One contains the Background of the
Study, the Statement of the Problem, the Purpose of the Study, the Method of
Research and the Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two contains the analysis
of the elements of plot in The Mystery of the Blue Train. Chapter Three is the
Conclusion. The thesis ends with the Bibliography and the Appendices, which
consist of the Synopsis of the Novel and the Biography of the Author.
4
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
After reading and analyzing Agatha Christie’s The Mystery of the Blue
Train, I conclude that this novel is one of suspenseful detective novels. The
elements of plot in the novel are well presented. The suspenses that arise in the
novel really make the readers curious about what is going to happen next. Besides,
the surprises give the readers unexpected turns in the events that happen in the
story. All the suspenses and surprises are acceptable, plausible and connected to
each other, thus, it builds a good artistic unity in the novel.
The best thing from this novel is that Christie can make the readers keep
their curiosity throughout the story and provides the answers to their curiosity at
the end of the novel. There are nine suspenses and eight surprises in this novel.
The first surprise comes right after the first suspense. Yet, in the second suspense
until the ninth suspense, Christie builds the tension in the readers by creating
some confusing events that remain unanswered until almost the end of the story.
For example, the murder case turns out to involve a mistaken identity,
19
Maranatha Christian University
a murderer who disfigures the victim’s face, an imitation of the jewelry stolen,
and two murderers who disguise themselves. These events make the readers more
curious to keep on reading in order to find out who the real murderer from the
story is.
The element of surprise in the novel is also well presented. After revealing
the first three surprises, Christie still keeps the reader’s tension high by not giving
the answers to all the suspenses that deal with the ultimate questions of the
mystery. The most important surprise is the fourth until the eighth surprise which
becomes the climax of the story and answers all the questions that have not been
answered. The surprises come right after the last suspense and explain the whole
chronology of the story and also reveal the murderer. Christie makes the readers
feel surprised because the ending of the story is beyond expectation. Derek
Kettering, who is suspected as the murderer from the very first place is not the
murderer after all. Furthermore, when Poirot reveals his investigation of this
murder case and mentions the real murderer, the readers will be surprised. First,
Poirot reveals that the murderer is Knighton, a man who works as a secretary to
Ruth’s father, Rufus Van Aldin. Second, he reveals the true identity of Ada
Mason, a woman who works as a maid of Ruth as Knighton’s accomplice.
Knighton’s real name is Marquis and Ada Mason’s real name is Kitty Kidd. They
disguise themselves to work for Rufus and Ruth in order to steal the valuable ruby
necklace. This surprise is beyond the readers’ expectation because Christie uses
Poirot, who is described as a highly intelligent detective, to be the only person
who can see all the small details and inconsistency in the investigation and
interrogation before he finally manages to find out the real murderer.
20
Maranatha Christian University
Christie successfully gives the readers an intense suspense with
unexpected surprise at the end of the story through Poirot’s smart observations
and investigations. However, Christie still manages to provide logical and sensible
explanation that makes all the surprises answer the suspenses in an acceptable and
believable way. It is the fact that Poirot is described as a very intelligent detective
that leads the readers to believe in the solution to the mystery that he offers.
Poirot’s revelation at the end of the novel provides a clear explanation about the
case and shows the plausibility in the way the surprises answer the suspenses.
Thus, I am of the opinion that Christie has successfully delivered a story with a
great artistic unity in an extraordinary way.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that The Mystery of the Blue Train is
one of the best detective novels I have ever read because of its elements of plot.
The events in the story are closely related. The tension that Christie gives in this
novel also entertains the readers very much. I conclude this novel is really worth
reading. It is no wonder that Agatha Christie has become one of the world’s topselling authors and known as a "Queen of Crime" or a "Queen of Mystery".
21
Maranatha Christian University
ANALYSIS OF THE ELEMENTS OF
PLOT IN AGATHA CHRISTIE’S
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
a thesis
submitted to the English Department
of the Faculty of Letters
in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the ‘Sarjana’ degree
IRMA DWINANDA RAHMAWATI
1041013
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
BANDUNG
2016
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Text:
Christie, Agatha. The Mystery of the Blue Train. London: Harper Collins. 2003.
Print.
References:
“Agatha Christie Biography.” Bio. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
“Artistic Unity.” HumanitiesWeb. 2012. Web. 28 Sep. 2016.
“Critical Approaches to Literature.” home.olemiss.edu. 1995. Web. 18 Oct.
2016.
“Introduction to Plot and Structure.” Quizlet.com. Web. 2016. 28 Sep. 2016.
22
Maranatha Christian University
Dalam tugas akhir ini, saya menganalisis sebuah novel karya Agatha
Christie yang berjudul The Mystery of the Blue Train. Novel ini bercerita tentang
pembunuhan seorang wanita yang bernama Ruth Kettering, anak seorang
pengusaha kaya di Amerika, Rufus Van Aldin. Kasus pembunuhan ini ditangani
oleh seorang detektif ternama bernama Hercule Poirot. Alur cerita dari novel ini
sangat menarik, oleh karena itu dalam tugas akhir ini saya menganalisis suspense,
bagian yang memunculkan ketegangan; surprise, bagian yang menampilkan
kejadian-kejadian yang mengejutkan dan menjawab suspense; serta artistic unity,
bagian yang membuat suspense dan surprise masuk akal dan berkaitan satu
dengan yang lain.
Sebagai kesimpulan, saya berpendapat bahwa Christie membangun artistic
unity yang sangat baik dalam novel ini. Ketegangan yang dibangun sejak awal
cerita membuat pembaca semakin penasaran dan tertarik untuk membaca novel ini
hingga akhir. Novel ini diselingi pula oleh kejutan demi kejutan serta hal-hal di
luar dugaan pembaca. Meskipun demikian, Christie mampu membuat semuanya
menjadi masuk akal. Keberhasilan novel ini tidak lepas dari karakter detektif yang
Christie ciptakan karena Hercule Poirot dengan kepandaiannya mampu
menyelesaikan kasus ini dengan baik.
ii
Maranatha Christian University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i
ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ii
CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Background of Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Purpose of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Method of Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Organization of the Thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
CHAPTER TWO :ANALYSIS OF THE ELEMENTS OF PLOT IN
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE
TRAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
CHAPTER THREE : CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Synopsis of The Mystery of the Blue Train . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Biography of Agatha Christie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
24
i
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, known as Agatha Christie, is one
of the greatest mystery writers. She was also known as a noted playwright. Most
of her works have also been turned into movies and are viewed many times. She is
considered as one of the world's top-selling authors who have sold billions of
copies of her works. Agatha Christie was a prolific writer as she has written more
than 70 detective novels as well as short fictions, which have been widely
translated into 55 languages around the world. Christie's success as an author of
detective stories has earned her titles as a "Queen of Crime" or a "Queen of
Mystery" (“Agatha Christie Biography”). Christie was also famous as the creator
of two well-known detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Both of them
always make her readers fascinated because they have their own ways to solve
every case unexpectedly. Miss Marple has been featured in novels like The
Moving Finger (1942) and A Pocket Full of Rye (1953). However, Hercule Poirot
has made more appearances in Christie's novels, which include The Murder of
1
Maranatha Christian University
Roger Ackroyd (1926), Death in the Clouds (1935), and The Mystery of the Blue
Train (1928).
From all of her works, I decide to analyze The Mystery of The Blue Train
in my thesis. Published in 1928, the novel tells a story about Ruth Kettering, an
American heiress who dies in a luxurious blue train on her way to Nice after she
has received a set of valuable ruby necklace called “Heart of Fire”. It is a gift from
her father, Rufus Van Aldin, a millionaire. She is found dead in her compartment
and the case containing the ruby has disappeared. Then, the Belgian detective
Hercule Poirot, who happens to be on the train, starts to investigate the case and
helps Ruth’s father to find the murderer.
As The Mystery of The Blue Train is a murder mystery novel, elements of
plot is the most prominent element in the novel to be analyzed. The elements of
plot consist of suspense, surprise, and artistic unity. Suspense is “a quality in a
work of fiction that arouses excited expectation or uncertainty about what may
happen; in more literary forms of fiction the suspense involves the question
"Why?"” (“Introduction to Plot and Structure”). While, surprise is “whatever
happens in a story that the reader did not expect; is proportional to the
unexpectedness of what happens.” (“Introduction to Plot and Structure”). The last
one, artistic unity means,
… the condition of a successful literary work where by all its elements
work together for the achievement of its central purpose. In an artistically
unified work nothing is included that is irrelevant to the central, nothing is
2
Maranatha Christian University
omitted that is essential to it, and the parts are arranged in the most
effective order for the achievement of the purpose. (“Artistic Unity”)
In analyzing the novel, I choose to use formalism. This approach
… regards literature as a unique form of human knowledge that needs to
be examined on its own terms. All the elements necessary for
understanding the work are contained within the work itself. . . . a primary
goal for formalist critics is to determine how such elements work together
with the text’s content to shape its effects upon readers. (“Critical
Approaches to Literature”).
I believe the use of formalism is appropriate to help me in my analysis.
Statement of the Problem
The problems I am going to discuss are:
1. What is the suspense in the novel?
2. What is the surprise in the novel?
3. What is the artistic unity in the novel?
Purpose of the Study
Based on the statements of the problem, the purposes of the study are:
1. To show the suspenses in the novel.
2. To show the surprises in the novel.
3. To show how the artistic unity is presented in the novel.
Method of Research
3
Maranatha Christian University
I use library research in writing my thesis. First, I read The Mystery of the
Blue Train by Agatha Christie as a primary text. Then, I take some data from the
Internet sites and sources to support my analysis of the elements of plot in The
Mystery of the Blue Train. Last, I draw some conclusions from my analysis.
Organization of Thesis
This thesis is organized into three chapters, which are preceded by the
Table of Contents and the Abstract. Chapter One contains the Background of the
Study, the Statement of the Problem, the Purpose of the Study, the Method of
Research and the Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two contains the analysis
of the elements of plot in The Mystery of the Blue Train. Chapter Three is the
Conclusion. The thesis ends with the Bibliography and the Appendices, which
consist of the Synopsis of the Novel and the Biography of the Author.
4
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
After reading and analyzing Agatha Christie’s The Mystery of the Blue
Train, I conclude that this novel is one of suspenseful detective novels. The
elements of plot in the novel are well presented. The suspenses that arise in the
novel really make the readers curious about what is going to happen next. Besides,
the surprises give the readers unexpected turns in the events that happen in the
story. All the suspenses and surprises are acceptable, plausible and connected to
each other, thus, it builds a good artistic unity in the novel.
The best thing from this novel is that Christie can make the readers keep
their curiosity throughout the story and provides the answers to their curiosity at
the end of the novel. There are nine suspenses and eight surprises in this novel.
The first surprise comes right after the first suspense. Yet, in the second suspense
until the ninth suspense, Christie builds the tension in the readers by creating
some confusing events that remain unanswered until almost the end of the story.
For example, the murder case turns out to involve a mistaken identity,
19
Maranatha Christian University
a murderer who disfigures the victim’s face, an imitation of the jewelry stolen,
and two murderers who disguise themselves. These events make the readers more
curious to keep on reading in order to find out who the real murderer from the
story is.
The element of surprise in the novel is also well presented. After revealing
the first three surprises, Christie still keeps the reader’s tension high by not giving
the answers to all the suspenses that deal with the ultimate questions of the
mystery. The most important surprise is the fourth until the eighth surprise which
becomes the climax of the story and answers all the questions that have not been
answered. The surprises come right after the last suspense and explain the whole
chronology of the story and also reveal the murderer. Christie makes the readers
feel surprised because the ending of the story is beyond expectation. Derek
Kettering, who is suspected as the murderer from the very first place is not the
murderer after all. Furthermore, when Poirot reveals his investigation of this
murder case and mentions the real murderer, the readers will be surprised. First,
Poirot reveals that the murderer is Knighton, a man who works as a secretary to
Ruth’s father, Rufus Van Aldin. Second, he reveals the true identity of Ada
Mason, a woman who works as a maid of Ruth as Knighton’s accomplice.
Knighton’s real name is Marquis and Ada Mason’s real name is Kitty Kidd. They
disguise themselves to work for Rufus and Ruth in order to steal the valuable ruby
necklace. This surprise is beyond the readers’ expectation because Christie uses
Poirot, who is described as a highly intelligent detective, to be the only person
who can see all the small details and inconsistency in the investigation and
interrogation before he finally manages to find out the real murderer.
20
Maranatha Christian University
Christie successfully gives the readers an intense suspense with
unexpected surprise at the end of the story through Poirot’s smart observations
and investigations. However, Christie still manages to provide logical and sensible
explanation that makes all the surprises answer the suspenses in an acceptable and
believable way. It is the fact that Poirot is described as a very intelligent detective
that leads the readers to believe in the solution to the mystery that he offers.
Poirot’s revelation at the end of the novel provides a clear explanation about the
case and shows the plausibility in the way the surprises answer the suspenses.
Thus, I am of the opinion that Christie has successfully delivered a story with a
great artistic unity in an extraordinary way.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that The Mystery of the Blue Train is
one of the best detective novels I have ever read because of its elements of plot.
The events in the story are closely related. The tension that Christie gives in this
novel also entertains the readers very much. I conclude this novel is really worth
reading. It is no wonder that Agatha Christie has become one of the world’s topselling authors and known as a "Queen of Crime" or a "Queen of Mystery".
21
Maranatha Christian University
ANALYSIS OF THE ELEMENTS OF
PLOT IN AGATHA CHRISTIE’S
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
a thesis
submitted to the English Department
of the Faculty of Letters
in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the ‘Sarjana’ degree
IRMA DWINANDA RAHMAWATI
1041013
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
BANDUNG
2016
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Text:
Christie, Agatha. The Mystery of the Blue Train. London: Harper Collins. 2003.
Print.
References:
“Agatha Christie Biography.” Bio. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
“Artistic Unity.” HumanitiesWeb. 2012. Web. 28 Sep. 2016.
“Critical Approaches to Literature.” home.olemiss.edu. 1995. Web. 18 Oct.
2016.
“Introduction to Plot and Structure.” Quizlet.com. Web. 2016. 28 Sep. 2016.
22
Maranatha Christian University